"Good morning! I'm speaking to you live from the West Wing of the White House. Today, we have a very unique opportunity to take part live in an extremely historic event which..." Whoa, boy...
He then painstakingly explains to the poor ass from NASA public affairs that "unique means 'one of a kind.' Something can't be very unique, nor can it be extremely historic."
And this is absolutely true, in that context. Unique means 'one of a kind' most of the time, and on those occasions, no intensifiers are possible. However - and this is why words are fun - sometimes unique means something else entirely.
Sometimes, unique is used in the same sense as "she has a great personality." You all know that one: I want to fix you up with my cousin, you ask me what she looks like, and I say "she has a great personality." Do we all understand? Or do I have to come right out and say that my cousin looks like Javier Bardem in drag?
That's how unique is sometimes used. You ask your friend with connections to read your screenplay, listen to your garage band's demo tape, or check out your decorating. If they come out with "unique," then you've got a great personality. Don't quit your day job.
And that concept, alas, can be subject to an intensifier. If they say it's very unique, it's the same as my cousin having a VERY great personality.
Capice?
